While football players are banging pads at Shotwell Stadium, fans can feast on Bangers and Mash and other nontraditional stadium food this varsity football season.

The Classic English fare of sausages – also called bangers – and mashed potatoes with brown gravy, as well as fish and chips – fried potato slices – are regular menu items of the London Express food truck, which will be setting up each Friday night at the stadium.

Other options will include artisan grilled sandwiches and quesadillas from The Toasted Traveler, barbecue from the 5-C Smokehouse and snow cones from Kona Ice. The mobile food vendors line up in the shadow of the north scoreboard at the Abilene Independent School District stadium.

For the 2017 football season, the north end-zone bleachers where middle school students previously hung out were removed to make room for the food vendors and several metal picnic tables. The middle school students now sit in a designated area in the stands.

“We wanted to make the experience at Shotwell Stadium better. We’re always looking for ways to improve. Not everybody wants nachos and a hot dog,” said Phil Blue, AISD executive director of athletics.

But for those who do, the concession stands still serve the stadium staples.

Last year, Blue solicited mobile food operators who would agree to sell grub during at least seven of the 10 regular-season games for a $600 rental fee for the year. AISD supplied only the space, with the vendors addressing their own electrical and other logistical needs. They had the option to set up for any playoff games at no additional charge.

Each food vendor has a culinary niche to ensure variety. Menu options will include barbecue nachos from 5-C Smokehouse, chili cheese fries from The London Express and artisan grilled sandwiches like the Big Poppa’ (spiced cream cheese, jalapenos, crumbled bacon and Cheddar) and Glazed and Confused (a glazed doughnut sliced and grilled with Cheddar) from The Toasted Traveler. A rainbow of snow cone flavors from the Kona Ice truck hit the sweet tooth.

The trucks usually start service at least 30 minutes before kickoff.

“We limit it to four because of space and because of the rental. We get too many in there, and then nobody makes any money,” Blue said.

During last football season, Blue and other AISD officials visited with fans at the picnic tables for feedback on the inaugural venture.

“Overwhelmingly, all the comments were positive,” Blue said.

The original four food trucks had first right of refusal before the space would be opened to other vendors for the 2018 season.

“I think the fact that all our food truck vendors decided to re-up says that it was worth it for them too,” Blue said.

The energy and excitement at the stadium is one reason Terry Gord of London decided to again set up his London Express food trailer this season.

“I like Shotwell because I’m a massive sports fan, truthfully not particularly American football. But last year’s experience epitomized raw, organic, passionate, tribal community spirit. Sport with the heart and not all the money,” Gord said.

The Toasted Traveler owner Stephanie Blair is returning to Shotwell in part for a more personal reason.

“I have a daughter at Abilene High, and I really enjoy being able to set up over there and serve students and meet new people,” Blair said.

Blue now has a waiting list of vendors who want to be considered for service at Shotwell, should the opportunity arise, he said.

The food trucks had little impact on the AISD-operated concession stands, based on analyzing sales by number of people in the stands in the previous year, Blue said.

“It was minimal. In fact, we couldn’t find where it had a negative effect at all,” he said.

Instead of eating something before arriving at the stadium, some fans may be saying, “Let’s just go 30 minutes early and get some barbecue or a snow cone,” Blue said.